As part of researching employment of children in mills I visited Quarry Bank in Cheshire, an old cotton spinning mill now owned by The National Trust. It gives an idea of what it was like 200 years ago. Unlike some mill owners, Samuel Greg refused to employ children younger than 9 and housed his 90 young workers in the apprentices’ house (above). The beds were padded with straw covered with a sheet, two to a bed. Hours of work were long but they got some schooling.

It was researching into real life scandals of the Victorian era, more often than not involving royal personages and their circle that inspired my 3 Victorian romances, FAIR PLAY AND FOUL, HEIRESS TO A DUKE and THE REGIMENT’S FORGOTTEN DAUGHTER. See Home page for links to a Goodreads summer giveaway. One print copy of each book is available. Sign up by midnight on 7th August to be in with a chance of winning.